Rwandan-backed militia says it has captured a major city in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has called for a national mobilization.
247 - The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reaffirmed on Monday (27) that it will not cede territory to Rwanda and the M23 militia, supported by the neighboring country. The statement was made by the Congolese government spokesman, Patrick Muyaya, amid the serious crisis in the east of the country.
According to the newspaper The GuardianRwandan troops invaded Congolese territory last Saturday (25), and the M23 rebel group captured the strategic city of Goma, capital of North Quivu province, after imposing a 48-hour deadline for the DRC army to surrender. Some military units began handing over their weapons to the UN peacekeeping forces present in Goma, according to a statement from the Uruguayan army, which is part of the United Nations Mission in the DRC.
In response to the loss of Goma, a city rich in mineral resources and of great strategic importance, the Congolese government called on the population to resist. "The government continues to work to prevent carnage and loss of life in view of Rwanda's manifest intentions... We appeal to all Congolese, wherever they are in the world, to mobilize in support of our compatriots... Not an inch will be left unattended!!!", declared Muyaya in a post on the X platform.
Earlier, the Tutsi-led M23 rebels confirmed they had taken control of the city, capital of North Kivu province, which borders Rwanda. The DRC accuses Rwanda of trying to exploit the mineral wealth of the country's eastern region, something the Kigali government denies. The fall of Goma represents the worst escalation of the long-running conflict in over a decade.
In light of the escalating conflict, Kenyan President William Ruto stated that the leaders of Congo and Rwanda have confirmed their attendance at a summit to address the crisis, scheduled for Wednesday.
On Sunday, the UN Security Council ordered an immediate halt to the M23 offensive in eastern Congo, condemning the "continued flagrant disregard for the sovereignty and territorial integrity [of Congo]" and calling for the withdrawal of "external forces." UN Secretary-General António Guterres reinforced the appeal, urging Rwanda to withdraw its troops from Congolese territory and cease its support for the M23.
The fighting in the DRC has already resulted in the internal displacement of more than 7 million people, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The M23, which also captured Goma in 2012, agreed to withdraw from the city a few days after the occupation.
